Mexico IDs First Confirmed Civilian Victim of Cartel Land Mines

Mexico prosecutors on Monday identified the first civilian victim of the land mines set up by Mexican drug cartels who fight for the control of the Michoacan state.

According to Associated Press, the prosecutors confirmed that the first civilian victim of the cartel land mine was a farmer from Tepalcatepec. Authorities did not release the name of the said farmer, but they mentioned that the man was 79 years old.

On Monday, Michoacan's prosecutor office reported that the civilian died after his truck ran over an improvised land mine, The Independent reported.

"It was an explosion of homemade explosive device... it is not known what type of device it was, but investigations are underway," the office said.

Reports noted that a farmer has land in the hamlet of El Aguaje. The said area is known to be the front line of fighting between Jalisco Cartel and the Viagras gang.

Local outfits were also known to fight for the rural state where the farmer died, as it allows them access to smuggling routes and Michoacan's avocado growers, who are targets of an extortionist.

Other Victims of Mexican Drug Cartel Land Mines

There are supposedly other victims of cartel land mines aside from the 79-year-old farmer from the Michoacan state.

In September, a woman told an AP photographer that her brother was allegedly blown to pieces when he stepped on a land mine in Tepalcatepec. However, the unnamed woman stressed that an investigation was never carried out by the authorities.

In November, Michoacan residents showed a small crater with a round metal piece. Residents claimed with AP journalists siding that time that a land mine was set off.

Last week, an army vehicle was disabled by an improvised explosive device (IED). The said IED was planted on a road, making 10 soldiers injured.

The said attack on the military vehicle was the first successful use of IED against the military officers.

Mexico Soldiers Deactivate Land Mines

The confirmation of the first civilian victim came after Mexican soldiers deactivated at least 12 land mines in Tepalcatepc, Michoacan earlier in February.

According to reports, the said land mines were composed of cylinders that contained gunpowder and two-millimeter-thick iron that acts as shrapnel.

Authorities from the United States noted that the land mines found in Mexico can explode with at least 2.2 kilograms.

In response to the violence the residents of Michoacan face, The Independent noted that residents organized an armed self-defense group to fight off the drug gangs.

Aside from land mines, drug cartels in Michoacan were also reportedly using drones in dropping bombs as they attempt to seize control over the state.

Mexico's Security and Civil Protection Secretary claimed that around 2,000 murders were recorded in Michoacan, ranking as the third-deadliest state in the country.

The victims of the drug cartel violence in the state include Avocado farmers as they were routinely threatened with death unless they would pay extortion money to the gangs.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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